newsletter – 2RetireInPanama?

What Have We Been Up To?

We love our home in Panama and are always waiting in anticipation for our next adventure. Having been in the United States for the Christmas and New Year holidays, another trip north was not on our radar. While we visited during the holidays, we were realizing the opportunity for investment in Florida real estate. My sister, Melinda is an agent in Punta Gorda where she and my dad both now live. She was telling us of the thousands of people who are relocating to Florida because of the positive handling of the COVID crisis and the particularly good political environment. With the huge influx of people relocating there the real estate industry has almost no inventory. I mentioned to her that we were anxious to get some of our money out of the stock market and park it in a hard asset. I asked that she keep her eye out for something that may meet our need in the way of a condo. In May she contacted us with a possibility.

The condo that she found for us was in our price range and showed pride of ownership. The systems and appliances were all recently updated, and it was recently repainted top to bottom. She immediately gave us a video tour and we made an offer. We were competing with other potential buyers, but our offer was cash with a guaranteed 15 day close. The elderly seller was happy to accept our offer which gave her a quick easy closing. We waited for the inspection report, which revealed almost no issues, and booked our trip to Florida to close on our new investment.

We did our own final inspection the day before our closing and found it to be very much what we expected. It is less than 15 minutes from my dad and my sister in nearby Port Charlotte. We found it to be very convenient to restaurants, shopping, churches, and the harbor. The community is quiet, and our neighbors were very welcoming.

We settled in and did a little redecorating. We prepared the unit for a potential tenant during the high season in Florida. We equipped it with fresh linens and replaced the small appliances in the kitchen. We purchased cookware and a couple of pieces of furniture. By the time we were through it proved to be wonderfully comfortable.

By the time we left to return to Panama we had secured a tenant for the high season and are pleased with our new investment.

While we were in Florida, we were terribly busy. We registered to vote, got drivers licenses, celebrated a couple of important birthdays, helped my dad with a project, celebrated Father’s Day, and got our COVID shots. In addition to all of that we made sure that everything worked properly in the condo. We also made a trip to Michigan to visit with friends and family.

I wanted to report on the vaccination process in Panama, but had we waited for our turn to get it here we would still be waiting. The process in Florida was quick, free, and simple. We made our appointment at Walgreens and the process caused us no stress whatsoever. By the way, it is important to note that when we were returning to Panama, we got our COVID test free at Walgreens as well. That process also requires an appointment, but it was also easy. We made the appointment on-line and were directed to go through the pharmacy drive through at our appointed time. Once there, they passed the swabs through the window, and we were instructed how to swab ourselves. Another important note here is that neither of us had any side effects from the vaccine. I know that there is much controversy regarding the vaccine, however we did our own research and made the informed decision that it was right for us to vaccinate. We got the Pfizer vaccine, and we both agree that we feel much safer having gotten it.

When we arrived in Florida it was Memorial Day weekend, and every place was hopping. The first thing that we noticed was that mask wearing was nearly non-existent. With the majority of the Florida population vaccinated the mask mandate is optional. It was not hard to get used to NOT wearing a mask everywhere. We still exercised caution until we got our second shot. I got some great pictures over the long weekend.

It was that first weekend that we celebrated my dad’s wife Renee’s and Jen’s birthdays. We went to a Carmelo’s Italian Restorante in Punta Gorda (Renee’s favorite) and had an awesome celebration with the whole family.

You may imagine that that first full week was perhaps the busiest of all with closing on the condo and getting it equipped. The truth is that it was perhaps the easiest of the 5 weeks we spent on the ground.

The second full week we flew to Michigan, rented a car and couch surfed around the state visiting friends and family. Our first couple of days we spent at my mom’s house in Cedar Springs. She and Rich were gracious hosts, and it was a thrill to have the opportunity to see their new house. Mom planned a BBQ for Hope and family which was so nice. The rest of our stay we visited and relaxed.

Hope, Jeremiah, Victoria, Nellie, and Jameson

By the beginning of the third day, we were on the road to Jen’s brother’s house on the east side of the state in Clarkston. Bill and Deb also did a great job of showing us a good time. They planned a cook-out and invited all of Jen’s local family. That gave us the opportunity to see and visit with our nephews, Cullen, Donovan, Connor, and Connor’s wife Olivia. After dinner they staged an impromptu book signing that was so cool. I remain honored by the love and support that family has shown for my book.

Check out future newsletters for some great individual fan photos that I got while on the trip. If you are not getting my newsletter on Monday mornings, and would like it, sign up here. You will see the archive page of past newsletters. Scroll to the bottom for the sign-up. I have been working hard to improve the newsletter since returning to Panama. While traveling we ran into some technical challenges that caused me to miss a few weeks, but we are back on track now.

After a couple of days with Bill and Deb we ventured to our old stomping grounds and visited with our good friends Linda, Ron, Ray, and Diane. We had a nice dinner with the four of them at Black Rock in Kalamazoo.

We had a wonderful meal and spent some much-needed time catching up. Later in weekend Diane and Ray hosted us for a great dinner and boat ride at their place. Mom and Rich came down and we all relaxed and had a great day. On Sunday we returned to Florida.

I addition to boring you all to death with the details of our month, I wanted also to provide valuable information. Post COVID, rental cars are in noticeably short supply across the United States. If you find yourself in need of a rental, be prepared for the price. Our rental car in Michigan for a week with limited mileage was nearly $500. When in Florida we were able to use my dad’s car. Our initial estimate to rent a car for the whole stay in the states was nearly $3,000. That was cost prohibitive for us. When I complained about the exorbitant rental car costs at the rental counter, the clerk would only say that they were unable to get new cars because of manufacturers shortages. She told me that they sold a lot of cars during the pandemic.

For me, the pinnacle of our visit to the states was the wonderful Father’s Day celebration. Our kids started arriving in Florida on Wednesday, and by Friday night all 3 girls and all 4 grandkids were there for the celebration. Jen and I vacated the condo and let them have run of the place.

Friday, we took everyone to the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. We did not know exactly what to expect, but I think it was a great time for all the kids. First, we went to the animal preserve where all the kids were able to get up close and personal with many of the animals. After that we had a great lunch, played mini golf, ziplined, and toured the gift shop.

Mister Tree says welcome to The Shell Factory

Quiet please…we don’t want to wake up the dinosaur.

Jameson feeds the birds while Nellie and Lucy look on.

Victoria, Jameson, Nellie, and Lucy pose in front of the Dinosaur exhibit.

Jameson, Nellie, and Lucy are hatching from dinosaur eggs.

Between all the other events we had plenty of time in the pool at the condo. We also had a great pizza party, went to Gatorz, and checked out the Peace River Wildlife Refuge. On Saturday the kids went to Gilchrist Park with a photographer to have a family picture taken for dad and I. They managed to have the pictures developed and framed to give us at our Father’s Day luncheon.

Kara, Lucy, Jennifer, Hope, Jameson, Victoria, and Nellie

On Father’s Day my sister arranged our luncheon at Laishley’s Crab House. We all had a nice time with great food, followed by a trip to the beach at Ponce De Leon Park where we grabbed some more awesome pictures. This time was super special for my dad and I as we rarely have this whole crew together in one place. In addition to the picture of the kids and grandkids, I got a subscription to Story Worth. They are sending me a writing prompt every Monday. I will be writing on the weekly prompts and returning the work to Story Worth where they will put the whole thing in a book at the end of the year. I guess I am writing my 2nd book. I am still trying to decide if any of it will end up in future blogs or newsletters. Let me know what you think! If a Story Worth subscription is something that interests you for yourself, or a gift, see tomorrow’s newsletter for a link to a valuable coupon.

When all the kids left and the dust settled, Dad and Renee took Jen and I to the Elk’s Club for Chicken and karaoke. We enjoyed the setting on the Peace River while listening to some of the most talented people I have ever heard sing karaoke. These people were so good that I almost forfeited my chance to sing. At the end of the day, I did sing as the sun was setting over the Peace River. Thank-you dad and Renee for hanging around and treating us to a great time while I waited to sing.

Dad, Renee, Jen, and I Beautiful evening on the Peace River

When it came time to go home to Panama, we were both excited to sleep in our own bed. I was asked what the first thing I wanted to do when I got home after 39 days away was. I had a hard time coming up with a response. There were so many things I missed. I think mostly I just wanted a $5 haircut from my favorite barber and to start planning our next big adventure. Finally, I think we are going to make it to the archeological site near Penonome’. Stay tuned.

If you have been enjoying the blog, but are not subscribed, please hit the subscribe button and we will let you know each time a new post is published (about 10 times per year). We will not spam you or share your information. It is really cool when people hit the like button, share and/or comment. We love you guys and hope to see you soon here in paradise.

Blessings,

Greg and Jen

Never a dull moment here in Panama…

…even during a pandemic. Jen and I have been remaining busy through the ups and downs of lockdowns and curfews. If you have been following us through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and my newsletter, you probably already know some of what I will share in this post. I sometimes have trouble getting motivated to write a blog post, but it seems that I had more to share than is possible on my weekly newsletter. If you are not getting the newsletter every Monday perhaps you have not yet subscribed to the get my blog in your inbox. It is well worth the effort. I share special deals, statistics on the virus as it pertains to Panama and much more. Just click the link below to subscribe and put in your e-mail address. You can leave your name if you wish. I do not share information with anyone. You will get an e-mail follow-up to confirm your subscription.

The feature image for this post is a sunrise over the Pacific. The photo was taken by Tom Gripman.

I have been attending a writers workshop nearly every month which encourages me to keep writing. Lynda Allison’s workshops are great and she offers them at Tranquilo Retreat . Lynda was instrumental in helping get my book published. Several of us write at each workshop based on prompts that Lynda provides. Once we finish in the allotted time, we each read our piece and the others offer feedback. We all agree never to share the work of anyone else (what happens at writing workshop stays at writing workshop). It is a totally safe and an non-judgmental atmosphere. Often the feedback I get encourages me to use more colorful and descriptive language. As I work to improve my writing, I find myself depending on pictures to enhance the readers pleasure. In March we will be hiking to a remote mountain waterfall where we will write.

Lynda Allison enjoying her copy of my book.

Despite the lockdowns on weekends and curfews, we have been fortunate to be able to enjoy the amenities of the resort where we live. That is the benefit to belonging to a private club with its own restaurants, bars, pool, spa, golf and tennis facilities. When we are unable to go outside the complex, we find everything for a good time right here on the property. The pictures below are just a few of our recent experiences here in Coronado.

On Thursdays, we get together with two other couples for lunch and Mexican Train. That activity started in the middle of the complete lockdown. It was a mechanism to help all of us cope with the isolation. The six of us consider one another within the same “bubble”. More than once, one of us has stated that this was the single most important thing every week to maintain our personal sanity. We take turns cooking and rotate homes. These people rock!

The lunch and dominoes crew. Tyrone took the picture.

Jen and I have been blessed to be able to help others with our experience. One thing that we did was to help an expat couple secure a vehicle before their final move to Panama. This is not something that I would like to do often, but these people are special to us. Our friend, Marc Vargas, found an excellent vehicle for them, and in the process, made us wish for a new car as well. Marc kept a watchful eye on the market and was able to find us a great deal on a “new to us” car. This past week we were able to take delivery of it. It is most likely the nicest vehicle that either of us has ever owned or hoped for. Thank you, Marc, for all you do for us.

I was able to buy a nice toolbox a few weeks ago. That kept me busy for days with assembly and organization. There was literally 1000 screws, and that was just for the assembly of the box. Once it was put together, I was able to organize my small tool and hardware collection, putting things away so that I always know where to find them. My deposito has a bunch more room now that things are boxed and labeled. We also, realized that without my tools in a closet in the condo we have more room to organize there.

In other project news, I finished painting all the doors and trim in the condo. I completed the project in the guest room, which has 12 louvered doors. Jen wanted me to lighten them up and give them a beach like look. I had to get a lesson from You Tube for this. I used a crackle medium and painted all the louvers with random beach colors. The result was unbelievable. We ordered new hardware and it changed the whole look of the room. I really like having projects, but this one was almost overwhelming.

Recently a friend of ours here in Panama wrote and published a book that is another point of view for expats. It is “An Expat’s Struggle – Making a Home in Panama” by Diane Maxwell.

Her book gives a point of view that is the opposite of mine, “2 Retire in Panama?”. Where everything went so smoothly for us, Diane had more than the usual difficulties. Many people categorize her book as a single woman overcoming adversity. She told me that several readers have contacted her saying the they had a similar experience, so it is not a unique story. She wanted to help anyone thinking about living abroad by presenting her solutions to issues. She deals with what the realtors won’t tell you. She talked to one relocation specialist, who said, “people who come on my tours don’t have any struggles at all.” That is exactly why she wrote her book.

Expats coming into a foreign country are usually unfamiliar with the customs, making everyday tasks even harder. Add in a language barrier and everyone struggles. One chapter of her book addresses cultural differences and how to live with them. Another chapter summarizes Panama’s history, putting an expats position among the Panamanians in perspective. She had to deal with legal issues including firsthand accounts of the court system. Her experience in both public and private hospitals compare quality and expenses. And the main theme is buying a home and dealing with the real estate market.

Her book has received 5-star ratings with very positive comments. Amazon selected it as the #1 new release in Panama travel guides. Along with the usual attractions of the Panama Canal, a visit to an indigenous tribe, and Panama City tour, she takes readers along on trips all over Panama. She sails around Bocas del Toro, lounges on the beach near Pedasi, visits a rum factory, takes in the turquoise waters of San Blas, and feels the excitement whale watching off the Pearl Islands. If interested in more obscure getaways, she visited an archeologic dig, soaked in hot volcanic springs, and shot the rapids in the rainforest while contributing to a reforestation project.

I found her book informative and enjoyable. The contrast between her experience and ours was very interesting to me. I recommend her book which is available on Kindle and at Amazon. Kindle Unlimited customers can read it free. Click here to get a copy.

I appreciate all the great feedback and reviews on my book. I hope that everyone who reads it takes away a little knowledge of what it may be like to retire abroad. Jen and I do extensive research prior to everything. It is easier to prepare in advance than have regrets. If you have not had an opportunity to read it, please get your copy here. And, by all means, send me a selfie with my book so I can include you in a future newsletter.

If you are enjoying this blog for the first time, please like and share it. I love sharing our experiences and adventures. With the lockdowns and curfews loosening up, we hope to have some new adventures to share soon.

Blessings from paradise,

Greg and Jen

Panama Is Reopening

For those of you who receive my newsletter, I may be repeating myself a bit in this post. About a month ago, I published the first weekly newsletter in place of the blog. My idea was to begin providing weekly updates for my readers and those who need to keep up with happenings in Panama. The newsletter gave me challenges that I never expected. The platform from which I publish the blog provided me with the ability to publish a newsletter, but gave me a hard time sending it to the almost 800 regular readers of the blog. I have subscribed to a better software to improve the process and it seems that the frustration readers and I were experiencing is now a thing of the past. If you missed a week of the newsletter you can access it from the newsletter archives on the header. If you are not getting the newsletter…perhaps you are not officially subscribed to the blog. I am only giving it free to regular subscribers.

You may be noticing that a few advertisements are appearing in the blog. My hope is to recover some of the expenses involved in publication of it. I do not necessarily endorse each of the advertisers and the advertisements appearing are almost all random. One advertiser that will appear is Amazon. I am a fan of Amazon and future volumes of the newsletter will have coupon offers exclusive to my readers. I am also noticing that there is a free offer for a trial of Amazon Prime appearing. As an expat, Amazon Prime is a great resource. Jen and I use it for premium television , movies, and sending gifts to our grandchildren. Clicking through the ads will get you to the provider and I will make a few cents to defray expenses. Thank you for helping me out with this. Thank you also for your indulgence with the ads that do not interest you. Just ignore them. If you are not subscribed for the blog (and newsletter), please subscribe today. Do not miss the great offers coming your way.

The snow is flying in many parts of the United States and Canada. That usually signals the arrival of our snowbird friends. Some are not coming due to travel challenges. Many others are arriving daily. If you are still on the fence about travelling to Panama this year, the following information may prove helpful. With the reactivation of international flights at Tucuman International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced that nationals, residents, and foreigners who enter the country and do not have a Certificate of Swab Test/PCR or negative antigen, the cost to perform the test at the air terminal will be $50. There are three Swabbing Centers strategically located and duly signposted for the attention of travelers, in the Central Area, North Pier and Satellite B within Terminal 1 of the airport. Travelers will be able to obtain the results in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. If the rapid test result is negative, the passenger will be exempt from complying with the mandatory isolation.

If the swab/PCR or antigen test is positive, the person will go to mandatory isolation in a hospital hotel designated by the Ministry of Health. Seven days later the passenger will have another antigen test. If the result is positive, the passenger must complete the fourteen-day isolation and if the result is negative, the isolation ends. I advise getting the test before leaving home, but within 48 hours of arrival in Panama. If you do not have a residence upon arrival, and test positive the government will send you to quarantine in a hotel at your own expense.

Technical crews, auxiliary crews, mechanics, and humanitarian personnel are exempt.

This information came from a statement released by the airport.

One of the things that we love about Panama is the ability to bless the local working people by hiring them to work for you. Many of our friends have local housekeepers, pool guys, grounds keepers, and the list goes on. When Jen and I decided to move forward with a remodel of our master bath, we searched our recourses to find local workers. We secured a group of guys who have been as much a blessing to us as we have been to them. The guys did the complete demo, prepared the space for a spa type shower, and all new bath fixtures. The tile work is winding down and the cabinet guy will be able to install our locally sourced and built cabinetry. Once the cabinets are installed the local granite purveyor will be in to get his final measurement before cutting our countertop. We also involved an electrician for additional lighting and outlets. Most of these people have been shut down for 7 months, and are just now getting back to work. Most of the working class in Panama have been barely surviving; with the majority spending all of their savings to provide bare necessities for their families. There is more about our project is in the newsletter. If you have not been getting it click on the newsletter link on the header to get a list of the archives.

November is like July in the United States. It is the beginning of summer in Panama with a full month of celebrations. This year the Panamanian people are celebrating without festivals and gatherings. Due to the COVID crisis, the government has cancelled all the big celebration events, but the holidays are not cancelled. Record numbers of people are expected to head to the beaches and the government is ready for them. According to PanaTimes, the first weekend that the beaches reopened the police were out enforcing part of the Ocean 2020 operation. The operation was deployed in 27 locations at beaches, rivers, and spas nationwide. Commissioner Arroyavez indicated that during that first weekend 1,513 people visited the beaches. Of those,14 people were arrested for failure to wear masks and 3 for consumption of alcohol on the beaches. Alcohol and food consumption on the beach is prohibited due to the COVID 19 crisis. The people who were arrested were taken to the justice of the peace and fined $100.00 each. The individuals who were fined all tested negative for COVID. The Ocean 2020 operation will continue through December due to the large capacity of people going to the beaches after 7 months of quarantine.

The Pan-American Highway was choked on the first day the beaches opened.

The opening of the beaches marked nearly the last of the reopening effort. We have been enjoying many of our favorite restaurants and nearly all the shops are open and maintaining regular hours. The pools are open and the movie theatres are opening with limits on capacity. About the only things not opened are the schools and the gyms, which are under a great deal of scrutiny. Churches that meet the protocols set forth by the government are being allowed to open with limits on capacity. Our church, Coronodo Bible Church is opening for regular services, on the first Sunday in December. We have been meeting on Fridays over the past few weeks due to the Sunday full lockdown, which just ended. On line services are expected to continue indefinitely.

Some of the protocols required here in Panama include masks anytime you leave your home, temperature checks anytime you enter a place of business, and social distancing. Anytime you enter a business you must walk across a shoe bath, and they spray sanitizer on your hands. Those of you who live in the United States, may be surprised to see how much more rigid it is here in Panama. I see news reports from the States with people complaining of mask usage and social distancing. In Panama it is not an option so, if you have a problem with this, it may be better for you to stay home this year.

I wanted to give you all an idea of how the Republic of Panama has handled the COVID crisis. MINSA, which is a division of the Ministry of Health, reports that the country has registered 134,366 cases and 2706 deaths. The resulting fatality rate for the entire country is at 2.0%. Active cases total 19,996. Of those 18,765 are recovering at home and 562 in hotels. The remaining 669 are hospitalized with 562 in ward and 107 in ICU. Compare that the rest of the world where 30,907,934 recovered registered patients are compared with 46,196,087 accumulated cases and 1,197,194 deaths creating a fatality percentage of 2.6%. Compared to the rest of the world Panama has done a phenomenal job of protecting its population from the virus.

The holiday schedule for November is important information. During the month there will be many days when government offices, banks, and other businesses will close. On many major holidays the government prohibits the sale of alcohol. Even if you are not going out for a drink, you may find your favorite restaurant running on a different schedule because of the prohibited alcohol sales. There are 5 official holidays in November. The 2nd is the day of the dead in Panama. It is a dry holiday which is set aside for the Panamanian people to visit the cemeteries and tidy up. On the 3rd Panama celebrates its separation from Colombia which occurred on November 3, 1903. This is also known as Independence Day; one of 2 celebrated in Panama. The 4th is Flag Day. You will see the Panamanian flag waving and hanging everywhere on Flag day. Flags are displayed on banks, businesses, overpasses, car antenna, and about anything that can be decorated with a flag. On the 10th Panama celebrates the uprising of Villa de Los Santos. This is known as the first cry of independence from Spain. On the 28th the second Independence Day is celebrated. The day commemorates independence from Spain which occurred on November 28, 1821.

I wrote a great deal of information about the holidays of Panama in my book “2 Retire In Panama?” which is available at Amazon or on Kindle. You can order by clicking the link on the home page. The Independent Press honored “2 Retire In Panama?” with a New York City Big Book Award. It was recognized as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Reference. Writing the book has been an adventure all of its own. I feel blessed that it is getting noticed by many important organizations.

Please remember to subscribe to the blog today to receive both the newsletter and blog in your e-mail in box. It helps me when you give feedback so I know that I have been helpful in keeping you informed about what is going on in Panama. It also helps when you like and share my posts.

Blessing from Paradise,

Greg and Jen

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